Questions & Answers about Hið óumflýjanlega gerist.
Why is the adjective óumflýjanlega acting like a noun here?
In Icelandic, you can turn an adjective into an abstract noun by using its neuter singular form. Here, the weak neuter form óumflýjanlega stands in for the concept of "that which is inevitable" or "the inevitable thing." This is called a substantivized adjective.
Why do we use the separate article Hið instead of adding an ending to a noun?
Because there is no actual noun in the sentence for an attached article to hook onto! When you use an adjective as an abstract concept, you pair it with the free-standing definite article hið (the neuter form of hinn). This article also forces the adjective into its weak declension, which is why it ends in -a.
Why does the verb gerist end in -st?
This is the middle voice (st-verb) form of the verb gera, which normally means to do or to make. When you add the -st ending to make it gerast, the meaning shifts to "to happen" or "to become."
How is the long word óumflýjanlega built?
It breaks down into the prefix ó- (un- or not), the preposition um (around), the verb flýja (to flee), and the suffix -anlegur (which acts like the English suffix -able). Literally, it translates to "un-flee-able" or something you cannot escape.
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